Without external forces, the third generation of a bacterium and the original parent cell will have approximately ________ matching DNA sequences.(1 point)

Responses

33%

33%

100%

100%

12.5% 

12.5% 

25%

1 answer

In bacteria, reproduction typically occurs through a process called binary fission, where a single parent cell divides to produce two daughter cells, each genetically identical to the parent. When considering the third generation of a bacterium, the matching DNA sequences can be calculated based on the principle of inheritance in binary fission.

For simplicity:

  1. The original parent cell (generation 0) has 100% of its DNA.
  2. The first generation (generation 1) is a clone of the parent and also has 100% matching DNA.
  3. The second generation (generation 2) is a clone of the first generation and will also have 100% matching DNA.
  4. The third generation (generation 3), which is a clone of the second generation, will likewise have 100% matching DNA.

Thus, the original parent cell and the third generation will have 100% matching DNA sequences.

Therefore, the correct answer would be:

100%